Whenever a body cavity such as the abdomen or chest is operated on, a drain connecting it to the outside is usually left in position. The need for such a drain is particularly high if fluids have been found within the cavity or if they are likely to accumulate after the operation. Such fluids include blood, serous secretions and mucous. While there are numerous benefits of having a drain tube after surgery, some complications may set in if the drain is not properly taken care of.
There are two main mechanisms that are involved in removing the fluid: active and passive. The passive process is dependent on gravity. It involves the connection of a jar to the drain and its placement below the level of the patient. This differs from the active process in which a negative suction force has to be applied in the form of a suction machine or vacuum. The choice depends on the type of operation conducted, expected consistency of fluid and surgeon preference.
The tube will be left in place as long as active flow is being noticed. What this means is that most of the care related to it will be done while the patient is in the post-operative ward. Therefore, it is important that all the clinical staff in this department know how to maintain all the related pieces of equipment. Part of the care should involve regular inspections to check for signs of malfunction.
Subsequent inspections should ideally be made at intervals of four hours. The same procedure conducted during the initial evaluation should be repeated. One of the most frequently encountered complications is localized or generalized infection. Such should be suspected if there is abnormal oozing (of pus), redness at the point of entry, increased tenderness within the site and a fever. A cotton swab of pus and blood culture tests are usually used for confirmation.
Leakage tends to occur if proper fixation is not done. It is important that an airtight seal is created between the incision and the tube. Another common causes of leakage includes frequent movements of patients. A temporary solution to this problem is reinforcement with dressings and adhesive tape as a more long lasting solution is awaited. In this case, the solution is to stitch the area with surgical sutures.
It is important that all the findings after each inspection are properly documented. This is especially important for the monitoring of the amount of fluid that is being drained; there is a need to know whether it is increasing or reducing. In the event that any abnormalities are noticed the head of the treatment team is informed so that the problem can be rectified.
The tube is usually removed once it stops draining or when the amount that is drained per day reduces to less than 25 milliliters. The removal process may be painful so it is advisable that patients receive some painkillers before it is done. Persons that have had the drain for a prolonged period of time are likely to experience more pain due to the formation of granulation tissue around it. The defect that is left is closed with a few stitches.
Unless there is another problem that requires observation, patients can be released from hospital on the same day that the tube is removed. Antibiotics are usually given for several days as prophylaxis against infections and dressing is also continued. Patients should be warned to come back immediately for evaluation if there is excessive oozing from the site, if they develop a fever or if the area becomes tender and reddened.
There are two main mechanisms that are involved in removing the fluid: active and passive. The passive process is dependent on gravity. It involves the connection of a jar to the drain and its placement below the level of the patient. This differs from the active process in which a negative suction force has to be applied in the form of a suction machine or vacuum. The choice depends on the type of operation conducted, expected consistency of fluid and surgeon preference.
The tube will be left in place as long as active flow is being noticed. What this means is that most of the care related to it will be done while the patient is in the post-operative ward. Therefore, it is important that all the clinical staff in this department know how to maintain all the related pieces of equipment. Part of the care should involve regular inspections to check for signs of malfunction.
Subsequent inspections should ideally be made at intervals of four hours. The same procedure conducted during the initial evaluation should be repeated. One of the most frequently encountered complications is localized or generalized infection. Such should be suspected if there is abnormal oozing (of pus), redness at the point of entry, increased tenderness within the site and a fever. A cotton swab of pus and blood culture tests are usually used for confirmation.
Leakage tends to occur if proper fixation is not done. It is important that an airtight seal is created between the incision and the tube. Another common causes of leakage includes frequent movements of patients. A temporary solution to this problem is reinforcement with dressings and adhesive tape as a more long lasting solution is awaited. In this case, the solution is to stitch the area with surgical sutures.
It is important that all the findings after each inspection are properly documented. This is especially important for the monitoring of the amount of fluid that is being drained; there is a need to know whether it is increasing or reducing. In the event that any abnormalities are noticed the head of the treatment team is informed so that the problem can be rectified.
The tube is usually removed once it stops draining or when the amount that is drained per day reduces to less than 25 milliliters. The removal process may be painful so it is advisable that patients receive some painkillers before it is done. Persons that have had the drain for a prolonged period of time are likely to experience more pain due to the formation of granulation tissue around it. The defect that is left is closed with a few stitches.
Unless there is another problem that requires observation, patients can be released from hospital on the same day that the tube is removed. Antibiotics are usually given for several days as prophylaxis against infections and dressing is also continued. Patients should be warned to come back immediately for evaluation if there is excessive oozing from the site, if they develop a fever or if the area becomes tender and reddened.
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